Australia offers astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg for 2028 ISS mission
The science minister says philanthropists have committed more than $6m toward a 2028 International Space Station flight that would be the first under the Australian flag.
At a glance
- Australia has offered astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg to the European Space Agency for a 2028 ISS mission.
- If approved, she would be the first qualified astronaut to fly under the Australian flag.
- Philanthropists have pledged over $6m, while an expert estimates the flight could cost about $100m.
The federal government has sent an offer to the European Space Agency (ESA) to fly the Australian of the Year, astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg, to the International Space Station on a mission slated for 2028. If it proceeds, it would be the first time a qualified astronaut has flown to space under the Australian flag.
Science minister Tim Ayres announced the decision on Friday. He said the government had been engaging extensively with the private sector, philanthropists and other levels of government to raise funding for a space flight, which he described as a significant cost. He thanked philanthropists who had committed more than $6m in cash plus in-kind support, along with indicative support from some state governments.
Who is Katherine Bennell-Pegg?
Bennell-Pegg is director of space technology at the Australian Space Agency (ASA) and completed astronaut training with the ESA in 2024. She is not Australia's first astronaut, but she is the first to qualify under the Australian flag. Andy Thomas and Paul Scully-Power, both Australian-born, flew on NASA missions as US citizens, and Elaine Hyde, a dual Australian and US citizen, took a suborbital flight aboard Blue Origin's NS-30 last year.
The ASA paid $466,000 for Bennell-Pegg to complete her astronaut training at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, according to Richard de Grijs, a professor of physics and astronomy at Macquarie University.
Funding and cost
The bid has drawn backing from the Australian space industry and philanthropists. Entrepreneurs Dick Smith and Jim Whalley each pledged $1m, and former prime minister Kevin Rudd said on social media that the project made long-term economic sense for Australia "beyond the usual sensibilities of the Treasury bean counters".
Ayres's office has previously called the mission "a very expensive undertaking" that no government alone could fund. De Grijs put the possible cost at about $100m, asking whether the inspirational value of sending the Australian of the Year to space was worth it, while noting it might lead to returns far greater than the estimate.
In August, Ayres and the assistant science minister, Andrew Charlton, wrote to state and territory leaders asking them to partner with the federal government on what The Australian reported was described as a "complete Australian mission" including locally developed experiments and technology. South Australia, where the ASA is headquartered, has publicly committed to supporting the bid.
Premier Peter Malinauskus said South Australia stood ready to partner with the commonwealth, arguing Bennell-Pegg could inspire young people to take up science, technology, engineering and maths.
Darin Lovett, chair of the Space Industry Association of Australia, said around $100m was "less than the price of a single coffee for every Australian adult", calling it a down payment on Australia's future.
De Grijs also noted Australia's involvement in "inspirational spaceflight" by another means: the Australian-built Roo-ver lunar rover, due to be sent to the moon on a NASA mission in 2030.
Source: The Guardian World.
Questions and answers
- Who is Katherine Bennell-Pegg?
- She is the Australian of the Year and director of space technology at the Australian Space Agency, who completed astronaut training with the European Space Agency in 2024.
- Would she be Australia's first astronaut?
- No. Andy Thomas and Paul Scully-Power flew on NASA missions as US citizens. Bennell-Pegg would be the first qualified astronaut to fly under the Australian flag.
- How much would the mission cost?
- No final figure has been given. Macquarie University's Richard de Grijs cited about $100m, and the science minister's office has called it "a very expensive undertaking" no government alone could fund.
